- Project: Monolith Lodge
- Architect: Hello Wood
- Location: Hungary, Dobogókő, Pilisszentkereszt
- Year: 2025
- Area: 105 m2
- Photography: György Palkó & Márton Bognár
A Sculptural Forest Retreat Rooted in Nature
Monolith Lodge is a serene, purpose-driven forest residence designed by Pyxis Nautica and brought vividly to life by Hello Wood, located deep within the wooded slopes of Dobogókő in Hungary’s Pilis region. This compact 105 m² home (with an additional 16.1 m² mezzanine) represents a refined architectural response to its tranquil forest context—where material integrity, spatial calm, and modern living converge.
Rather than merely sit in its environment, Monolith Lodge inhabits it. The project emerged from a concept that lay dormant for years before being revived through collaboration between the original Pyxis Nautica designers and Hello Wood’s design-build expertise, resulting in a structure that is at once sculptural and deeply connected to its wooded setting.
Material Richness & Structural Clarity
The name Monolith Lodge refers to its defining architectural gesture: a monolithic concrete chimney that stands as both structural anchor and visual focal point. Cast with rough-sawn board formwork, this towering element connects materially and visually with the home’s rigid geometry and reinforces a sense of permanence and place.
The main structure is founded on reinforced concrete, while walls and roof are constructed from five-layer, exposed-quality CLT (cross-laminated timber) panels. This combination of materials allows for rapid assembly—three days for the primary structure and a six-month overall construction timeline—yet yields a rich tactile experience of wood, concrete and metal.
Large glazed openings frame forest views, inviting daylight deep into the interior and creating a powerful spatial connection between inside and outside without compromising privacy or the forest’s serenity.
Spatial Experience: Comfort in the Forest
Monolith Lodge comfortably accommodates three bedrooms: one master suite and two smaller guest rooms. Interiors celebrate the honesty of exposed CLT surfaces, which are complemented by carefully chosen premium materials and designer furniture that lend a contemporary yet warm atmosphere.
Well-considered amenities enhance the lodge’s role as a retreat. A Finnish sauna and an outdoor electric hot tub extend the living experience into wellness and leisure, while terraces—both covered (31.2 m²) and open (17.6 m²)—wrap around the building, further dissolving the threshold between architecture and landscape.
Architecture That Resonates with Place
What distinguishes Monolith Lodge is its quiet confidence—architecture that is powerful without being ostentatious. The exposed CLT structure imbues warmth; the monolithic concrete chimney provides sculptural weight; and the wraparound terraces offer immersive forest engagement. The design strategy—marrying timber and concrete with expansive glazing—allows the home to anchor in the forest while maintaining refined minimalism.
Why Monolith Lodge Matters
Monolith Lodge stands as a compelling example of contemporary forest architecture—an intimate, elegant refuge that celebrates timber craftsmanship, sculptural form and serene presence in nature.
